For years, Quince has been a website that I knew as “that place to get affordable cashmere sweaters.” But as its offerings have expanded further and further, from home goods and luggage to jewelry and perfume, it’s also become a source for diamonds, caviar, and even Dom Perignon. The site has been dabbling in gourmet foods and beverages — and I’ve been curious as to why, and whether it’s a good place to buy, say, Champagne and mushroom coffee.
If you’re new to Quince, the company first launched out of San Francisco in 2020 as a direct-to-consumer (DTC) lifestyle brand, meaning it cut out the middle man, and thus, was able to slash the prices of typically expensive leather bags, linen tablecloths, bamboo sheets, and silk pillowcases. The initial offerings felt focused: simple, versatile apparel and accessories, catering to the person who might need, say, a silk slip dress for an upcoming wedding. (At Ralph Lauren, one might cost $398. At Quince, they’re under $90.) Now, the brand appears to be applying that philosophy to the food space, and started off on an especially luxurious note with wine and Quince label caviar.
Like most aging millennials, I’ve grown tired of the Temu-fication of, well, everything; inversely, I can’t always justify splurging for a new purse (the gift-with-purchase totes, after all, are right there). I grew up sniffing out estate sales for tin-glazed earthenware ceramic tiles like a truffle pig. I have the same mentality about food and beverages (the best DTC source for vegetables? The farmers market), but it’s a little trickier to thrift something like royal osetra caviar and cabernet, the former of which is being sold at Quince for purportedly 76 percent less than competitors.
Feeling intrigued and slightly skeptical, I dedicated a week to sampling a smorgasbord of Quince’s stand-out gourmet and specialty items, from mushroom powder coffee to highly rated pinot noirs. Get your caviar spoon ready, and let’s dive in.
I love everything about caviar: the subtle, crisp whiff of the sea; the buttery finish; the singular sensory experience of having a dozen small, black orbs melt in unison on your tongue. For the most part, Quince’s royal osetra caviar delivers on all of these fronts, although I did find it to be less on the nutty side, and more on the buttery-briny side. It paired nicely with eggs, avocado, and (my favorite combination) Bonilla a la Vista’s olive oil-fried potato chips.
Given that 100 grams of coveted, royal osetra caviar will easily cost you upwards of $200 anywhere else, this is one of Quince’s best hidden gems at $125 a tin. Plus, the tin has stately, giftable packaging that comes with a caviar key and a mother of pearl spoon.
The wine cellar, launched in winter 2025, is the newest addition to Quince’s gourmet lineup. I’m no Frasier Crane, but I beheld an impressive assortment of mostly Napa reds and chardonnays (no amber-colored, skin-contact oranges here), as well as a bottle of 2015 Dom Pérignon Champagne that would run you closer to $300 with shipping elsewhere (but is available for nearly $50 less at Quince). For my money, the best picks are the Tolosa Edna Valley Primera Pinot Noir 2018 (a robust pinot with notes of pomegranate and cherry) at a cost that’s 17 percent less than its competitors; the Kelham Vineyards St. Helena Napa Valley Chardonnay 2022 (this is what I call a picnic chardonnay, because it’s bright and acidic) that goes for a whopping 40 percent less than competing sites; and, my favorite of the bunch, this Kelham Vineyards Oakville Napa Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 that sells for 46 percent less than other retailers, and is the kind of tannin-intense red wine that pairs well with lamb, and makes you feel like a poet by the river Seine after two glasses.
Finally, don’t sleep on the wine glass selection. They’re hand-blown, as thin as watercolor paper, and make drinking a crisp white feel that much more satisfying.
On the wellness end of the spectrum, I was surprised to learn that Quince offers a vast array of collagen powders, electrolyte blends, and lion’s mane mushroom capsules. Next to the caviar, this was the section of the site I was the most curious to try, because, like the caviar, it’s a Quince label product (unlike, say, a bottle of Dom). As a generally overcaffeinated person who loves coffee, I tested out the organic mushroom coffee for a week to see how my mood and energy levels changed.
Firstly, all of Quince’s supplement powders come with a serving-size scoop, which I found particularly helpful as a lazy, sleepy person who usually consumes most if not all of my wellness and/or caffeinated beverages in the morning (with the exception of a chaotic 4 p.m. cold brew coffee). This mushroom coffee is made with functional (no psychedelics here) mushrooms, L-theanine (which is supposed to promote relaxation), and contains half the caffeine of a standard cup of coffee. Simply add hot water, and stir.
Some powdered coffees lack a nice froth and a complex aroma, but this one packs both. There’s some Folger’s commercial-worthy froth at first pour, and an earthy, chocolatey aroma with a hint of spice that was vaguely festive, like a holiday coffee blend. Again, this reduced caffeine beverage doesn’t deliver the same crowbar-between-the-eyes aroma or energy boost to me as coffee, but the hint of arabica really pulls its weight by making you feel like you’re about to drink a real, robust cup of coffee.
The taste was initially less exciting and a bit watery. Once I started adding in a half a spoonful more of the powder and some whole cow’s milk, it became a nice sub for my late-afternoon coffee. With the exception of a day when I was a little hungover, my body felt far less tense and my attention span was a bit more focused at work. I know, I know — water too wet! Steak too juicy! It might seem like a no-brainer, but I was pleasantly surprised at its effectiveness for weaning me off of a $7 neighborhood cafe latte.
On the whole, Quince’s foray into gourmet foodstuffs left a pretty good taste in my mouth — once I got over cognitive jump one has to make to buy caviar from the same place that sells you bath mats.
Learn more about Quince’s gourmet food and wine selection here.
